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Federal Foreign Office funds destruction of napalm inSerbia

06.07.2012 - Press release

The Federal Foreign Office has made available up to 100,000 euros for the destruction of 110 tonnes of napalm powder inSerbia. In this connection, Rolf Nikel, Federal Government Commissioner for Disarmament and Arms Control, issued the following statement today (6 July 2012):

“Highly toxic ammunition such as napalm powder and white phosphorus pose a considerable health risk to people in Serbia. It must be destroyed as quickly as possible in a proper and environmentally responsible manner. By financing the destruction of 110 tonnes of napalm powder, Germany is helping to foster security and stable development in the Western Balkans.”

In 2012,Germanyis providing up to 100,000 euros towards an initiative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist the Serbian Government in destroying napalm powder as well as ammunition containing white phosphorus, which is extremely dangerous.Germany’s contribution is being used to destroy 110 tonnes of napalm powder.

Germany’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier signed an agreement to this effect inViennaon21 June 2012.

The use of napalm as incendiary ammunition is prohibited under the UN Weapons Convention (CCW), Protocol III.

A large volume of highly toxic and hazardous – both to health and the environment – napalm, can be produced with 110 tonnes of napalm powder. Even a small splash of burning napalm causes skin burns which do not heal easily.